Photo:1 Cervando Vega attempts to get past 44 Spencer Smith.
The Prescott Badgers bounced back after their loss to the Mesquite Wildcats last week, with a 29-6 win over the visiting Flagstaff Eagles.
A nearly capacity crowd was on hand for the homecoming game, to see the Badgers build a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter.
Flagstaff took the opening kick and moved down the field. The Eagles were in a good position to take an early lead, but that is when things changed dramatically. Prescott’s Cervando Vega jumped the route on a Flagstaff pass play, returning it 99 yards for a pick six. It was the first time this season the Badgers had scored first. Cole Gross added the PAT for the 7-0 lead.
Prescott scored again with 1:07 left in the first quarter when Cian Mckelvey sprinted into the end zone from 12 yards out.
No scoring occurred in the second quarter, that saw the defenses stand tall and make some big plays. Caden Pena picked off the first of his two on the night with 4:00 left in the quarter. The other factor was penalties, that help the defensive cause and killing off drives.
The Badgers gave Flagstaff an opportunity to get on the board after a muffed punt by Vega, but Pena got the ball back for the Badgers with his second pass interception. The Badgers used a good mix of runs and pass plays to go up 20-0 on a Cody Leopold 10 yard TD run, with 3:53 on the third quarter clock.
Flagstaff (1-2) in the Grand Canyon Region, (4-4) overall, tried a fake punt on their next possession, but even that failed. Once again the Badgers moved the ball and scored again on a second Leopold touchdown, this time on a one yard plunge.
The Eagles finally got the goose egg off the board when Codie Maier hit Jake Weidinger for a 20 yard TD, on a quick two play drive. The two point run attempt failed, and that would be if for the visitors highlights.
Prescott (4-0) in the Grand Canyon Region, (6-2) overall, added a Cole Gross field goal from 28 yards out, giving the Badgers a 29-6 lead with 7:03 left.
Quarterback Alex Vaughan had a perfect evening in the pocket completing all nine passes, to six different receivers, for 123 yards. Landen Aurich and Jake Hilton caught two each. Prescott had a very good night on the ground with two 100 plus yard rushers. Cian Mckelvey had 133, with 1 TD, Cody Leopold with 132, and two TDs, led the way for the home team that ended with 274 yards on the ground. As for the negative, offensive holding was the penalty of choice for the Badgers, getting flagged for it eight times.
Defensively, Cervando Vega and Cody Leopold were credited with 11 tackles each. Spending time in the opposing backfield was a good habit that resulted in four sacks of the Flagstaff QB, with five different players involved. Cody Leopold, Cody Hanna, Cameron Brown, and a joint effort by Cervando Vega and Desmond Bennett accounted for a loss of 34 yards by the Eagles offense.
With the Badgers winning, along with Bradshaw Mountain upsetting Coconino, sets up a showdown that will determine the Grand Canyon Region champion. The two teams will face each other on Friday at Prescott High School.
PRESCOTT BADGERS 29, FLAGSTAFF EAGLES 6
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Flagstaff 0 0 0 6 – 6
Prescott 14 0 6 9 – 29
Scoring Summary
P-Vega 99 yard pass interception (Gross kick)
P-Mckelvey 12 yard run (Gross kick)
P-Leopold 10 yard run (Kick failed)
P-Leopold 1 yard run (Pass failed)
F-Weidinger 20 yard pass from Maier (Run failed)
P-Gross 28 yard FG
GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS
School W L W L
PRESCOTT 4 0 6 2
Bradshaw Mountain 3 1 5 3
Coconino 2 2 4 2
Lee Williams 2 2 5 3
Flagstaff 1 2 4 4
Mingus 0 4 2 7
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS SCOREBOARD
Bradshaw Mountain 14, Coconino 0
Mohave 48, Chino Valley 0
ALA-Queen Creek 55, Seton Catholic 21
Apache Junction 46, Combs 34
Benjamin Franklin 49, Marcos de Niza 0
Buckeye 52, Moon Valley 20
Cactus 56, Northwest Christian 3
Carl Hayden 60, Washington 0
Camelback 21, Central 20
Camp Verde 38, Glendale Prep 18
Glendale 33, St. Mary’s 21
Lee Williams 49, Mingus 31
Payson 27, Blue Ridge 26
Peoria 49, Gila Ridge 20
Sahuaro 21, Pueblo 20
Thunderbird 54, Shadow Mountain 21
Vista Grande 28, Yuma 20
1A Playoff Quarterfinals
St. David 69, Bagdad 46
Williams 58, Hayden 6
Mogollon 52, El Capitan 5
Badminton
The Badgers perfect season came to an end with a championship loss to the Ironwood Eagles 5-3 at Cortez High School. Prescott ends a great season as state runner up in Division II with a (17-1) record. State champion Ironwood, the number three seed, also ended at (17-1).
No other information was made available.
